Rory Reid comes off as a whiney, agitated jerk. ‘Brian said this, Brian said that’.

Brian Sandoval appears calm and reasoned.

From Ray Hagar at the Reno Gazette-Journal:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval has a agreed to a fourth debate – this one in Reno — with Democratic opponent Rory Reid, Sandoval’s spokeswoman said Saturday.

The additional debate will take place on Sam Shad’s Nevada Newsmakers television program, although the date is not finalized, spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner said.

It will be the only debate between the candidates in Reno. Reid has been critical of Sandoval for not debating in Reno, his home town.

The four debates are one more than Gov. Jim Gibbons and Democratic challenger Dina Titus engaged in during the 2006 campaign.

Titus and Gibbons debated in Reno, Las Vegas and Elko.

From Politics Daily’s Poll Watch:

Republican Brian Sandoval has a big 53 percent to 31 percent lead over Democrat Rory Reid with 5 percent 11 percent undecided, according a Mason-Dixon Research poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Five percent preferred someone else or did not like either choice.

For Sandoval, a former state Attorney General and federal judge, that’s a five point gain over Reid since the last survey two weeks ago. Reid, a Clark County Commissioner, is the son of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Reid has not been able to gain any ground despite stepping up his criticism of Sandoval over the last two months with television ads, the Web and personal appearances, the Review-Journal said.

“Reid does not have a lot of time to turn this thing around,” said Jennifer Duffy, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, told the newspaper. “The fact that he is just over 30, that Sandoval is over 50, there is not any good news in this poll for Rory Reid.”

Sandoval is seen favorably by 48 percent and unfavorably by 17 percent, with 31 percent saying they are neutral and 4 percent not recognizing him. Reid is seen unfavorably by 43 percent and favorably by 27 percent with 26 percent neutral and 4 percent not recognizing him.

From KOLOtv.com:

Trailing in the polls by double digits against a candidate that’s been keeping a low profile, the Rory Reid campaign hopes the budget document he released Thursday will at least start the debate, putting some life in what has been a very quiet contest.

It may or may not have accomplished that, but at least it has awakened his critics.

Republican rival Brian Sandoval issued a brief comment late Thursday saying it was impossible to take Reid’s plan seriously since it “relied on $615 million in revenues which don’t exist and over half a billion in cuts which are based on faulty assumptions.”

Governor Gibbons’ Deputy Chief of Staff Lynn Hettrick echoed those comments, noting Reid is relying on a nearly 25% improvement in the economy in the second year of the biennium.

“We’re a gambling state,” said Hettrick, “but I don’t think anyone wants to bet on that kind of recovery.”

While the governor submits a budget, the legislature is required by law to make the final product fit the projections of the state’s Economic Forum and he thinks the current estimates are too conservative.

Reid says the state will see $5 billion dollars in energy projects in the coming years and that should give the economy the boost his plan is relying on.

“To say that in two years our economy is going to be 50% worse than it is now overly pessimistic. If I’m wrong we can adjust. I found $2 and a half billion. I can find some more.”

Some critics say neither Reid nor Sandoval are being realistic in claiming the projected $3 billion dollar shortfall can be closed by cuts alone.

Reid says after spending the past year listening to Nevadans who are worried about their jobs and their homes and taxes are not on the table.

“I refuse to put an additional burden on the people of the state of Nevada. This is not the time to do that.”

Reid, who meets Sandoval in their first debate in Las Vegas on Sunday says he isn’t sure if his budget plan will start a debate on the biggest issue facing the next governor, but he dismisses the criticism.

“I don’t think the governor or his staff have anything to shout about and Brian doesn’t even have a plan, so I feel pretty good with my critics frankly.”

This is going to be so much more awesome than Rory vs. Brian. I’m gonna bust my butt to be there.

Media advisory from Green Party candidate David Curtis’ blog:

WHAT: The first Nevada gubernatorial debate featuring five of the seven gubernatorial candidates will be held across the street, immediately after the debate between candidates Rory Reid (Democrat) and Brian Sandoval (Republican).

WHO: Gubernatorial candidates David Scott Curtis (Green), Eugene “Gino” DiSimone (Non-partisan), Floyd Fitzgibbons (IAP), Aaron Y. Honig (Non-partisan) and Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. (Libertarian) are confirmed debate participants. The debate will be moderated by Dee Wayne Gregory, KHWG 850 AM general manager and radio talk show host.

WHEN: Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 7pm

WHERE: Doolittle community overflow parking area across the street from the Andre Agassi Foundation on West Lake Mead at J Street in Las Vegas, NV.

CONTACT: David Scott Curtis, 702-475-3885, davidscurtis@earthlink.net

From the Reno Gazette-Journal:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid presented a plan to bridge Nevada’s $3 billion projected shortfall without raising taxes Thursday, although the much anticipated $2.48 billion plan falls about $500 million short of the deficit.

Reid said that the plan fails short because he believes that the state’s economy will turn around in the second year of the next state budget cycle, making up the rest of the deficit.

“These are all based on projections,” Reid said. “And I think that there is a good argument to be made that in the second year of the biennium, we will grow again. It is extraordinarily pessimistic to suggest that two years from now, our economy will be 50 percent worse.”

I think that means it is based on wishful thinking. But Chuck Muth says Rory Reid’s budget proposal parallels that of former State Senator Bob Beers. Now there’s a distasteful combo.

From MyNews4.com:

Five gubernatorial candidates in Nevada announced they are protesting a debate between the two front runners in the Silver State’s race for governor.

KLAS-TV, according to its website, is partnering with the Las Vegas Review Journal and Vegas PBS to air a debate between Republican Brian Sandoval and Democrat Rory Reid. The debate is set for Sunday at 6 p.m.

But in a press release emailed to “all Nevada television, newspaper and radio media,” the five candidates say the debate sponsors: “have intentionally and blatantly excluded [five] of the [seven] candidates for this important public office.

“Particularly egregious is the participation of VegasPBS, a public broadcasting station in these exclusionary tactics. Public funding should not be used to prevent candidates for elected office from receiving equal time in public debate.

“We are making this matter known to every media outlet in the state of Nevada. We are considering our legal options and plan to file complaints with every source providing taxpayer funds to advance this event with such bias.”

The statement was signed by Aaron Y. Honig-an independent, Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr.- of the Libertarian Party, David Scott Curtis- of the Green Party, Eugene “Gino” DiSimone-an independent and Floyd Fitzgibbons of the Independent American Party.

From the Reno Gazette-Journal:

(Ray Hagar) Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval had declined an invitation to speak Friday along with Democrat Rory Reid before the Nevada Insurance Council in Reno on Friday so Reid did the next best thing.

Reid had one of his campaign workers trot out a near life-sized cardboard cutout of Sandoval and place it next to the podium.

It got a few laughs from the audience and Reid used it to drive home his point: He wants to engage Sandoval in more than the three debates that have been scheduled, none of which are in Washoe County.

“I know it (cardboard cutout) is not much, but it’s all I can do,” Reid said when Sandoval’s smiling image was placed next to him. “Maybe this will help you and help me and help the people of Nevada have more debates, particularly in Northern Nevada.”

Sandoval’s spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner, found little humor in the cardboard cutout: “It is so silly, it doesn’t deserve a comment,” she said.

Sandoval, with a 16-point lead over Reid in the latest Las Vegas Review-Journal/KLAS-TV poll, is prudent to limit debates, one political expert said.

“This is right out of campaign textbook 101,” said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno and registered Republican. “If I am up by 16 points, I really don’t want to give a stage to my opponent.”

In the 2006 gubernatorial election, current Republican Jim Gibbons debated Democratic opponent Dina Titus three times.

“We’ve agreed to three debates so far – at least one to be broadcast statewide,” said Kinner of the Sandoval campaign. Two are planned in Las Vegas and another in Elko.

Reid reminded the audience that Sandoval won’t debate in his own backyard.
“Brian has refused to agree to a debate with me in Washoe County,” Reid said. “Currently, there is no scheduled debate in Reno. And to suggest that one of our state’s major urban areas should not be the site of a debate between the two people who are vying to be the state’s new chief executive, is just wrong. It’s not fair to the people of Northern Nevada.”

When asked if he would want more debates if he were up by 16 points, Reid said, “This is about the people of Nevada and their ability to see the two people who want to be the next governor. The problem is that Brian is too much about Brian and whatever the polls say, and they change, they are all over the map.”

Thursday, Sandoval’s camp noted that their research showed that Reid had missed 140 votes of the Clark County Commission in the past 19 months. Reid, the commission’s chairman, has served on the commission since 2002.

“Clark County taxpayers probably aren’t going to be too happy to realize they are essentially paying him to run for governor,” Kinner said. “Clearly, Rory Reid believes it’s more important to campaign for a new job than do his current job.”
Reid bristled at the accusation.

“I think it is ridiculous for a man who has quit every job he has had to question my voting record,” said Reid, referring to Sandoval’s resignations as attorney general and federal judge. “I have a 98 percent voting record, and he has a 100 percent record for quitting.”

Reid did not deny missing the votes, saying, “As I have been running for governor, I have only missed one meeting,” Reid said.

“Our meetings last for eight hours some days. We have more than 4,000 votes over the course of the year, and I have missed maybe one or two percent of those. If I have gone out for a drink of water, I might have missed a vote. If I had to take a phone call I needed to take, I might have missed a couple of votes. If that is the best criticism he can come up with on my record as a public official, then this is gong to be a real comfortable fall for me.”

From the Damon Political Report in the Las Vegas Sun:

(Anjeanette Damon) In one of his first acknowledgements that he has a general election opponent, Republican Brian Sandoval today sent out a press release accusing Democrat Rory Reid of ignoring his job as county commissioner in favor of campaigning for governor.

The Sandoval campaign found 140 votes Reid has missed in the past 19 months.

“Clark County taxpayers probably aren’t going to be too happy to realize they are essentially paying him to run for Governor,” Sandoval spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner said. “Clearly, Rory Reid believes it’s more important to campaign for a new job than do his current job.”

The 140 missed votes, however, represent an estimated 3 percent of the 4,000 or more votes by the commission in that time period. County commission meetings typically last between six and eight hours.

Reid’s campaign said he has missed only two meetings since January 2009. The rest of the missed votes occurred when Reid took a break to “get a drink of water, make a phone call or check on one of his kids,” spokesman Mike Trask said.

“It is absolutely ridiculous for a man who’s quit more jobs than anybody in Nevada and who has been running around the state avoiding public scrutiny for the past eight months to be all that concerned about other people’s schedules,” Trask said about Sandoval.

The press release was the first general election attack launched by Sandoval, who has largely refused to engage Reid. Sandoval has a substantial lead in the polls.